[LaComptable]

I am a CPA with about six years experience now in Internal Audit. I worked in advisory at a public accounting firm for three years and left as a Senior Associate for a role in industry as a Senior Auditor. I am still a Senior Auditor. I just got my CPA last year.

My dilemma is this. I have really come to dislike Internal Audit. I want to transition out, but I’m not sure what my next move should be. Now that I have my CPA, I would like to transition to a more hard-core accounting role, preferably in financial reporting since I think that would be great experience.

Have any of you transitioned from Internal Audit to Accounting / Financial Reporting? Did you find your Internal Audit experience to be a hindrance? How did you sell it as an asset?

There is a Senior Financial Reporting Analyst opening within my company’s Accounting department, and I would like to apply, but I am worried about creating an appearance of impropriety since we audit the Accounting folks so much. If I didn’t get the role, that might be awkward.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

BEC - 88
AUD - 74, 87
REG - 77
FAR - 63, 82

CIA certified in 2013

[Anonymous]

Do you have a relationship with your supervisor (which I assume is the Internal Audit Manager or some equivalent title) such that you would feel comfortable discussing your interest in the Senior Financial Reporting Analyst role that's available internally? If so, I would suggest talking to him/her about it, and your concerns about whether it would be a problem to apply to it in case you don't get it. As long as the audit manager is OK with it, then go for it. However, if you have this conversation, then if they say “no”, you can't really go around them to apply for it.

If the concerns about auditing the guy (or gal) who is interviewing you are too much to be able to apply internally, then I'd still apply to similar positions externally. Just highlight in your resume all the financial reporting related duties that you've done in internal audit (like all the financial reporting that you've audited, all the financial reporting rules you're familiar with through auditing, etc.). Of course you've audited other stuff, too, and that will be mentioned, but focus on the financial reporting piece.

I think that often people like having a former auditor on their team, since they think it gives them the “inside scoop” to keeping auditors happy. Again, like you said, may be a problem at your current employer, may not…but at another employer will still have potential to be seen as a positive edge.

[fuzyfro89]

“Have any of you transitioned from Internal Audit to Accounting / Financial Reporting? Did you find your Internal Audit experience to be a hindrance? How did you sell it as an asset?”

No, I left IA for finance, but it's the same transition. You have to sell your experience AND your aptitudes. I would be shocked if an accounting department would not want a CPA with controls experience… especially in a public company.

I agree with the previous comment. If your current supervisor or company is not favorable to an internal move, then look externally. Simple as that. It should not be an issue, as many people transition from IA into other areas… often that is the goal of IA to put the controls and process improvement discipline into operating teams.

As an aside, I'd say that the downside to IA is that if you stay too long (and even audit in general) the PERCEPTION by some people is that your skills and/or aptitudes are narrow. Your hurdle will be to convince new teams that you can learn another function despite being 5+ years deep into audit of different types.

[ruggercpa2b]

My very first job out of college was in IA at a Fortune 500. IA was treated as the starting place for most of the people within the company. A lot of people stayed for maybe 1.5 to 2 years and then transitioned into accounting and finance roles within the company. Almost 70% of the people within the company in various roles started out in IA. Some left and came back after realizing that they liked IA better. You dont want to stay too long in IA.

For us we looked at financials and also did compliance work. We had an understanding of how the company worked and also an understanding of a lot of the entries. I think that you can transition into financial reporting. Like everyone else has said, you will need to look at your experience and sell that to someone in accounting.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[LaComptable]

Thanks everybody! Lilla, I did what you suggested and talked to my manager about the internal job posting. He was completely okay with it, so I discussed it with the hiring manager too. Everyone was really encouraging, so I applied and now I have interviews set up for tomorrow and Monday! Here's hoping that works out. If this internal position doesn't work out, I'm encouraged by your advice and will still be looking externally. Thanks all!

BEC - 88
AUD - 74, 87
REG - 77
FAR - 63, 82

CIA certified in 2013

[Author]

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